Newcastle are enjoying a special season (Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle United are within touching of the Champions League following their hugely impressive run of form this season.
Eddie Howe’s men, backed by a number of big money signings following the Saudi-led takeover of the club, have opened up a significant gap to fifth place and only a collapse of gigantic proportions will not see them dine at Europe’s top table next season.
So, with the iconic Champions League anthem set to blare out at St. James’ Park once again, when exactly was the last time Newcastle played in the competition?
Here is everything you need to know.
When did Newcastle last play in the Champions League?
Newcastle last played in the Champions League group stage in the 2002/03 season.
Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League the previous campaign to earn a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds, which they successfully navigated to seal their spot in the group stage.
Barcelona were amongst the visitors to St. James’ Park (Picture: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Back then the group stage was split into two rounds, with Bobby Robson’s men drawn in the first group stage against Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv and Feyenoord.
After losing their first three games, Newcastle completed a remarkable turnaround by winning all three of the reverse fixtures to qualify for the second group stage.
There, they were drawn in a ‘group of death’ with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
The group ultimately proved a step too far, with Newcastle finishing in third place behind Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Newcastle did qualify for the Champions League again for the following season, but they did not participate in the group stage having been defeated by Partizan Belgrade on penalties in the final qualifying round.
Newcastle’s Champions League journey saw them play at San Siro (Credits: Getty Images)
Their appearance in the group stage in 2002/03 was the second time Newcastle had taken part in the Champions League, with the first coming in 1997/98.
That European campaign also ended at the group stage, failing to progress from a group which contained Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv and PSV Eindhoven.
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When did Newcastle last play in any European competition?
Newcastle’s last taste of European football was the 2012/13 season under Alan Pardew.
The Magpies finished second in a Europa League group consisting of Bordeaux, Maritimo and Club Brugge.
Consecutive 1-0 aggregate wins were secured over Metalist Kharkiv and Anzhi Makhachkala, before their European dream came to an end at the hands of eventual runners-up Benfica in the quarter-finals.
Their European adventure was welcome relief from the disappointing league form which saw them finish 16th in the Premier League.
Newcastle have two smaller European titles to their name; the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968/69 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2006.
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What a season they’re having.